WASHINGTON, D.C. — Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar hopes to close little known loopholes that allow states to grant in-state tuition to illegal aliens.
Gosar introduced H.R. 1190, which would ensure that illegal aliens will not be eligible for any postsecondary educational benefits that are not available to students legally present in the United States, said a press release from Gosar’s office.
There is a loophole that “allows illegal aliens to receive in-state tuition for large and prestigious universities, while American citizens must pay out-of-state tuition to attend the same university,” Gosar said.
The bill, introduced last week, is endorsed by the Federation for American Immigration Reform and NumbersUSA is cosponsored by Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs as well as Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX), Scott DesJarlais, (R-TN), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Steve King (R-IA), Mark Meadows (R-NC), and Randy Weber (R-TX).
“It is despicable that taxpayer funded institutions are blatantly ignoring the law and putting illegal aliens ahead of American students,” said Congressman Gosar in a press release. “American students should not be cut out of opportunities being offered to illegal aliens. Closing this loophole would ensure that American students are provided the same opportunities and benefits that are granted to illegal aliens.”
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, “the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA, P.L. 104-208, Sec. 505) [already] bars states from providing ‘postsecondary education benefits’ to unlawfully present aliens based on their residence in the state unless all U.S. citizens or nationals are eligible for such benefits, regardless of their state of residence.”
Gosar believes that loopholes, such as the one that allows illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition rates because they graduated from an in-state high school, violate the intent of this law.